Political Parties SECTION

S E C T I O N 1 Parties and What They Do Pair Share: What is a political party? What are the major functions of political parties? SECTION

Unit Standards 12.3 Students evaluate and take and defend positions on what the fundamental values and principles of civil society are (i.e., the autonomous sphere of voluntary personal, social, and economic relations that are not part of government), their interdependence, and the meaning and importance of those values and principles for a free society 1. Explain how civil society provides opportunities for individuals to associate for social, cultural, religious, economic, and political purposes. 2. Explain how civil society makes it possible for people, individually or in association with others, to bring their influence to bear on government in ways other than voting and elections. SECTION

12.6 Students evaluate issues regarding campaigns for national, state, and local elective offices. 1. Analyze the origin, development, and role of political parties, noting those occasional periods in which there was only one major party or were more than two major parties. 4. Describe the means that citizens use to participate in the political process (e.g., voting, campaigning, lobbying, filing a legal challenge, demonstrating, petitioning, picketing, running for political office). SECTION

What Is a Party? A political party is a group of persons who seek to control government by winning elections and holding office. The two major parties in American politics are the Republican and Democratic parties. Parties can be principle-oriented, issue-oriented, or election-oriented. The American parties are election-oriented. SECTION Chapter 5, Section 1

What Do Parties Do? Nominate Candidates—Recruit, choose, and present candidates for public office. Inform and Activate Supporters—Campaign, define issues, and criticize other candidates. Act as a Bonding Agent—Guarantee that their candidate is worthy of the office. Govern—Members of government act according to their partisanship, or firm allegiance to a party. Act as a Watchdog—Parties that are out of power keep a close eye on the actions of the party in power for a blunder to use against them in the next election. SECTION Chapter 5, Section 1

Why a Two-Party System? The nation started out with two-parties: the Federalists and the Anti-Federalists. The Force of Tradition. America has a two-party system because it always has had one. Minor parties, lacking wide political support, have never made a successful showing, so people are reluctant to support them. The Electoral System. Certain features of government, such as single-member districts, are designed to favor two major parties. Ideological Consensus. Most Americans have a general agreement on fundamental matters. Conditions that would spark several strong rival parties do not exist in the United States. SECTION Chapter 5, Section 2

Party Membership Patterns Factors that can influence party membership: SECTION Chapter 5, Section 2

What were the first two political parties? Pair Share What were the first two political parties? Who were the leaders of each party? SECTION

The Nation’s First Parties Federalists Led by Alexander Hamilton Represented wealthy and upper-class interests Favored strong executive leadership and liberal interpretation of the Constitution Anti-Federalists Led by Thomas Jefferson Represented the “common man” Favored Congress as the strongest arm of government and a strict interpretation of the Constitution SECTION Chapter 5, Section 3

Early Partisanship SECTION

Federalist #10 Warned against political parties: The latent causes of faction are thus sown in the nature of man; and we see them everywhere brought into different degrees of activity, according to the different circumstances of civil society. A zeal for different opinions concerning religion, concerning government, and many other points… or to persons of other descriptions whose fortunes have been interesting to the human passions, have, in turn, divided mankind into parties, inflamed them with mutual animosity, and rendered them much more disposed to vex and oppress each other than to co-operate for their common good. The inference to which we are brought is, that the causes of faction cannot be removed, and that relief is only to be sought in the means of controlling its effects SECTION

American Parties: Four Major Eras The Three Historical Eras The Era of the Democrat, 1800—1860 Democrats dominate all but two presidential elections. The Whig Party emerges in 1834, but declines by the 1850s, electing only two Presidents. The Republican Party is founded in 1854. The Era of the Republicans, 1860—1932 Republicans dominate all but four presidential elections. The Civil War disables the Democratic Party for the remainder of the 1800s. The Return of the Democrats, 1932—1968 Democrat Franklin D. Roosevelt is elected President four times. SECTION Chapter 5, Section 3

American Parties: Parties Today The Start of a New Era: The Era of Divided Government Since 1968, neither Republicans nor Democrats have dominated the presidency and Congress has often been controlled by the opposing party. 1968–1976 Republicans hold the presidency Congress is controlled by Democrats 1976–1980 Democrats hold the presidency Congress is controlled by Democrats 1980–1992 Republicans hold the presidency Senate controlled by Republicans 1980-1986, controlled by Democrats from 1986 to 1994 1992 – 2000 Democrats hold the presidency Congress controlled by Republicans, 1994 to present 2000 Republicans hold the presidency Congress is controlled by Republicans SECTION Chapter 5, Section 3

Minor Parties in the United States Types of Minor Parties Ideological Parties Example: Libtertarian Party Single-issue Parties Example: Free Soil Party Economic Protest Parties Example: The Greenback Party Splinter Party Example: “Bull Moose” Progressive Party SECTION Chapter 5, Section 4

Minor Parties in the United States SECTION Chapter 5, Section 4

Why Minor Parties Are Important Minor parties play several important roles: “Spoiler Role” Minor party candidates can pull decisive votes away from one of the major parties’ candidates, especially if the minor party candidate is from a splinter party. Critic Minor parties, especially single-issue parties, often take stands on and draw attention to controversial issues that the major parties would prefer to ignore. Innovator Often, minor parties will draw attention to important issues and propose innovative solutions to problems. If these proposals gain popular support, they are often integrated into the platforms of the two major parties. SECTION

The Future of Major Parties Weakened connections to political parties: For voters : More people are unwilling to label themselves as “Democrats” or “Republicans” Split-ticket voting—voting for candidates of different parties for different offices at the same election For candidates: Structural changes have increased conflict and disorganization within parties Changes in the technology of campaigning, especially the use of television and the Internet, have made candidates more independent of the party organization The growth of single-issue organizations provides candidates with another source of financial support SECTION Chapter 5, Section 5 Chapter 5, Section 5

Pair-Share Federalist Paper #10 warned against _______________________________ Two types of minor parties are ___________ and ____________ I think minor parties are __________ because __________ SECTION